Have you written your Independence Day stories?

If you live in Canada or the US, you just celebrated national holidays, Canada Day on July 1, or the US’s Independence Day on July 4.

In your memoir, if you’re including vignettes about your childhood summers—or adult summers, for that matter—below you’ll find prompts to inspire you in your writing.

Did your ancestors come from another nation or continent? If so, which ones? When did they leave their homeland? Why? What was it like to leave everything (and perhaps everyone) they knew and relocate? What other stories can you tell about your ancestors?

If you are a Native American, what does it mean to you that you live in the United States or Canada? Your perspective will no doubt be quite different from that of those with roots in other countries.

When you were growing up, how did your friends and family celebrate the holiday? Was it an especially patriotic day, or just a day for family and friends to get together? If it was a patriotic experience, what did freedom mean to you when you were growing up? What does it mean to you now?

What Independence Day traditions did you grow up with? Which people usually celebrated the day with you? What are your favorite memories? Which childhood traditions do you still carry out? Why? Which traditions have you chosen to discontinue? Why?

Did the day include musical performances, fireworks, parades, picnics? What food was on your typical Independence Day menu? And what were popular food brand names at the time? I think of Hostess Cupcakes, Twinkies, and Sno Balls. When I was a kid, we ate only white Wonder bread—but I don’t recall bread being on the menu on the 4^th of July. I do remember potato salad, though, and maybe hand-made hamburgers.

Have you ever been outside your homeland on Independence Day? How was that day different from your other Independence Days?

What was your best Independence Day ever? Why? Which was your worst? Why?

Remember, details are important for your memoir. They add richness and texture and enjoyment but perhaps most important is this: Specific details create pictures for readers—they help readers imagine themselves experiencing your story alongside you.

With that in mind, what were the styles of clothing worn during the era you’re writing about?  When I recall my childhood, I think of pedal pushers and what we called “cut-offs” (jeans cut off above the knee), halter tops, and short-shorts. And pop-beads. And friendship rings.

What about hairstyles? Ponytails come to mind. The Pixie. The Duck Tail. And for the boys: flat-tops.

What slang was common at that time? I think of “Cool, Daddy-O,” and “That’s the cat’s meow,” and “Hubba-hubba, ding-a-ling.”

Add sensory details: What did the 4^th of July or Canada Day smell like? Sound like? Feel like? Taste like? Look like? Be sure to read “Details: a must for your memoir.”

Create a vibrant setting 

for your Independence Day stories. 

Your readers will love them.